Star Princess Review
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Additional details
This was our 2nd cruise to Hawaii, both on Princess. The first was on her sister ship the Golden. I read the reviews for months and was not sure if we had made the right choice but was glad we continued with our booking in the end.
Condition of the ship: We found the ship to be in good condition. Was there some rust, yes but nothing offensive. All the common space was clean and well kept up. Occasionally a toilet on deck 7 was out of order but fixed right away. I saw the crew cleaning railings frequently. Water was always hot, in fact I never did get cold water out of the tap.
Staff : The staff were very friendly and helpful. They would greet you with a smile and a greeting. I don't know if this was because they were following the lead of their captain or just good customer service. Captain Michele Tuvo was outstanding. This was our 11th cruise and I never experienced a Captain who was so present to all cruisers. We would see him walking about the decks at least two or three times a day greeting staff and passengers alike; taking time to pause for pictures when asked.
Cabin Review
Mini-Suite with Balcony
Loved our cabin. Mini-suite with plenty of room. Ours was the last cabin on the starboard side before the aft facing cabins. It was unique because the balcony was double the size of most balconies and was totally covered by the Dolphin balcony above. The one drawback was that we were above the Vista Lounge which meant that the sound from the lounge could be heard in our cabin, muffled but still present. However, if the sound system in the lounge was set lower it would not be as big an issue. The sound was louder near the door and as you went further into the cabin it became less. Would it stop me from reserving that cabin again. No way. The balcony made up for it. You could see down the side of the ship and to that back to see the wake. Great spot.
Port Reviews
Hilo
We needed to get a prescription so we went to Walmart. Walmart has a free shuttle. So if you need meds Walmart is very helpful.